Strange warns the Greysteels to take Flora away from Venice (likely because he fears the fairy will capture her). Dr. Greysteel sends Flora and her aunt away. The next morning, Austrian officers and Italian priests ask Dr. Greysteel to have Strange remove a large black tower that has arisen in a quarter of the city and casts everything around it into endless night. Dr. Greysteel goes to visit Strange, but Strange either can’t or won’t do anything about the tower. Strange also seems to be under the delusion that he can revive Arabella. Greysteel observes Strange take some drops of the tincture.

Greysteel hears rumors that Strange is visiting Lord Byron, who is the source of the rumors that Strange had a psychological crisis. When questioned, Lord Byron has nothing helpful to say, and he only tells Greysteel that it is natural that a great magician like Strange would fall into sadness because of his inability to manifest his aspirations in reality. Byron tells Greysteel that Strange wrote him some strange and rambling letters and sent similar letters to Henry (Arabella’s brother), whom Strange hopes will come to Venice and help recover Arabella. All this sounds like nonsense to everyone who hears it since everyone assumes that Arabella has already died.